1
as in enacting
to put into effect through legislative or authoritative action
the city council promises to lay down new ordinances that will force dog walkers to clean up after their animals
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in declaring
to state clearly and strongly
at the risk of their popularity, the parents laid down the rules for the party and wouldn't accept any arguments
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in specifying
to give the rules about (something) clearly and exactly
the supervisor laid down the procedure for a complaint of sexual harassment
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in relinquishing
to give (something) over to the control or possession of another usually under duress
commanded the surrounded troops to lay down their weapons
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for laying down
Verb
-
Obama was enacting the two roles that presidents play.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Mar. 2026 -
Test the waters by sharing your plan before enacting it, then go forward with respect for people and outcomes.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The White House is considering a menu of options, including declaring a national emergency to pay the TSA workers, a move that would be a politically fraught and almost certain to face legal challenges.—
Lisa Mascaro,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Mar. 2026
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Qalibaf, in his statements issued via social media, has been unambiguous in declaring that those reports are entirely false.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
An Amazon Web Services (AWS) spokesperson said the disruption was ongoing, without specifying the exact location affected or any potential damage done.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Access and collaborative agreements — and sometimes even land return agreements — come with requirements specifying what tribes can and cannot do with the land.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The United States has offered Iran a 15-point proposal for a ceasefire that includes it relinquishing control of the strait, but at the same time has ordered thousands more troops to the region — possibly in preparation for a military attempt to wrest the waterway from Iran.—
David Rising,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
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With concerns growing about a global energy crisis, an Iranian official said Tehran had no intention of relinquishing its tight grip on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for oil.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In the mid-nineties, as South Korea’s explosive economic growth began to stagnate, President Kim Young-sam’s Administration made a big bet on the culture industries, passing legislation to help enliven the country’s artistic production.—
Mitch Therieau,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
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Ultimately, a lack of Democratic support for weakening the filibuster prevented them from passing that legislation, but Republicans were also vehemently opposed and leaned on arguments about protecting states’ rights.—
David Sivak,
The Washington Examiner,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Most people are happy to see Becca asserting herself, but others are only happy for her as long as Adam is another resident and not a staff member.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
24 Mar. 2026
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But Kavanaugh was defending a state’s right to require ballots to be received by Election Day, not asserting that all states must do so.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Cost anxiety has become the defining concern of the application process.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
25 Mar. 2026
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The moment captures the strange overlap now defining the entertainment industry.—
Grant Rindner,
Rolling Stone,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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This demo showed off a graphics-rendering task (an aquarium full of fish, whose frame rates and swimming action were directly affected by the availability of system resources).—
John Burek,
PC Magazine,
25 Mar. 2026
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The game was about rendering a person with a limited palette of supplies.—
Eric Boodman,
Vulture,
25 Mar. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Laying down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/laying%20down. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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